Lead Courtroom Clerk

Maryland Judiciary; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Tuition assistance

Continuing education programs

Employee assistance programs

State Retirement and Pension plans

Job summary

Maryland Judiciary in Baltimore City seeks a Lead Courtroom Clerk for the Paternity division. The role performs experienced clerical work in the courtroom, assists the judge with the docket, runs the recording system, and prepares documents for signatures while updating the case management system.

The incumbent trains new hires, interfaces with judges, court staff, and the public to ensure smooth operations, and upholds confidentiality and procedural standards in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma (or GED).
• Experience: 3 years in court operations or related fields; 1 year as a Courtroom Clerk.
• Bachelor's degree may substitute 1 year of required work experience.
• Paralegal/associate's degree or 60 college credits may substitute 1 year of experience.
• Paralegal Certificate may substitute 1 year of experience.

Responsibilities

• Prepare Court Docket and clear dockets prior to hearings.
• Record essential information for judicial proceedings.
• Operate Court Smart recording system and other tech.
• Interact with judges, staff, public, and agencies to ensure smooth operation.
• Administer oaths and train Courtroom Clerks on procedures.

Skills

Court forms

Legal terminology

Judicial policies

English basics

Recording equipment

Typing

Time management

People leadership

Decision making

Communication

Multitasking

Procedural adherence

Attention to detail

Impartiality

Filing systems

Relationship building

Training

Education

High school diploma (GED)

Bachelor's degree substitution for experience

Paralegal/associate's degree substitution

Paralegal certificate substitution

Tools

Court Smart

Zoom

Polycom

Job description

Position Type

Fulltime

Job Title

Lead Courtroom Clerk

Division/Department

Paternity

Closing Date

September 15, 2026

Location

Baltimore City Circuit Court

Address

111 N. Calvert Street Baltimore, MD 21202

Salary

$61,901

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

At Will

Yes

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• paid time off
• paid holidays
• tuition assistance
• continuing education programs
• employee assistance programs
• State Retirement and Pension plans

About the Maryland Court System

Maryland Courts (mdcourts.gov)

Salary Ranges

salaryrangesfy27.pdf

Financial Disclosure

As a state employee, you may be required to file an annual Financial Disclosure with the State Ethics Commission. If you are required to file, you will be notified by the Judiciary Human Resources Division and must file within 30 days of employment and no later than April 30th of each subsequent calendar year.

Essential Job Functions

The Lead Courtroom Clerk position is experienced clerical work performed within a courtroom, including assisting the judge with the docket; operating the recording system; preparing paperwork for signatures; and entering the judge's findings in the case management system for Baltimore City Circuit Court. In addition to the responsibilities of an active courtroom clerk, this position requires the incumbent to work directly with management to provide new hires with full and complete training in all aspects of courtroom proceedings. The Lead Courtroom Clerk assists judges, magistrates, attorneys, the general public, and other court related personnel to ensure the smooth operation of the court.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Preparation of Court Docket: Clear the dockets prior to the scheduled hearing's by reviewing the cases in the Courts independent system to ensure all documents have been uploaded for all cases. Log information into Court Smart. Process summonses, pleadings, and any miscellaneous paperwork for each case.
• File and Docket Entries: Interpret and record all essential information related to judicial proceedings, including decrees, judgements, motions hearings, rulings, etc.
• Operation of Court System: Operate audio-video recording system (Court Smart). Tag all individual proceedings for retrieval and transcription purposes. Operate Zoom and Polycom systems.
• Interpersonal/Intrapersonal Communications: Make frequent contact by telephone, e-mail, Teams and in person with judges, court staff, management, the public, and various agencies to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the court.
• Preparation of Court Orders: Input and scan all court ordered documents, including but not limited to Probation Orders, Commitments, Jail Releases, Public Defender Reimbursement Forms, Notification of Right to Counsel Forms, Drug Treatment Assessment Forms, Warrants, Body Attachments, Summonses, Judgement Forms, Jail Cards, Community Service Forms, Settlement Orders, Release and Transportation Order forms, and Exhibit Letter into the electronic system.
• Train Courtroom Clerks on the aforementioned procedures. Administer oaths to witnesses and interpreters. Call the Court to Order. Communicate with DOC/BCDC, Sheriff's Department, Office of the Public Defenders, Office of Special Counsel and other stakeholders. Train Courtroom Clerks on the aforementioned procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma (or GED equivalent).
• Experience: Three (3) years of work experience in court operations, or in the fields of criminal justice, parole and probation, legal, or financial services, to include one (1) year as a Courtroom Clerk.
• Note: A bachelor's degree may substitute one (1) year of required work experience.
• Note: A Paralegal/associate's degree or 60 college credits may substitute one (1) year of required work experience.
• Note: A Paralegal Certificate may substitute one (1) year of required work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of: Court forms, practices, procedures, protocols, systems, and equipment required to support the specialized work of the assigned unit(s).
• Legal terminology and court procedures.
• Judicial policies, procedures, and forms.
• Basic English and arithmetic to include, but not limited to, spelling, punctuation, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Skill In

• Operation of recording equipment, computer terminals, and related software.
• Typing on a personal computer.
• Managing priorities to meet critical deadlines while multitasking.

Ability To

• Assist, guide, and direct others.
• Make work decisions in accordance with laws, regulations, rules, and Judiciary policies and procedures.
• Apply job-related terminology, policies, procedures, regulations, and laws to define problems, collect data, establish facts, record data, appropriately complete forms, and provide information to customers.
• Communicate clearly, tactfully, and effectively with judges, the public, police agencies, attorneys, and other court officials and personnel, both verbally and in writing.
• Follow procedures, verbal and written instructions, and protocols for any given assignment.
• Multitask, adjust to situations quickly, set priorities, and handle pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Work within time constraints, meet fixed deadlines, and demonstrate good organizational skills.
• Handle sensitive or difficult situations requiring discretion and confidentiality.
• Understand and carry out complex verbal and written instructions.
• Pay attention to detail.
• Exercise tact, diplomacy, and impartiality in dealing with the public, law enforcement personnel, and attorneys.
• Use and maintain alphabetical and numerical filing systems.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, superiors, and/or the general public.
• Devise new and more efficient training techniques.
• Provide hands-on and detailed instruction to trainees.

Physical Requirements

Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Equipment, Machinery And Tools

• Computer
• Scanner
• Printer
• Laptop
• Copier
• Telephone

Software And Computer Skills

• Connect
• Word
• Email
• Enterprise Justice/File & Serve
• Windows
• Excel

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Maryland Judiciary is an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a workplace culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, familial status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. Applicants who need an ADA Accommodation during the application and/or interview process should send their request via email to [e-mail] or call 410-260-1732. The Maryland Judiciary is a drug-free workplace. Applicants must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States.

Please find the Maryland Judiciary's equal employment opportunity policy here: Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation .